Snow covered the land in a soft, white blanket, coating everything in its pale colour. With the coming of winter the bright, green colours of the land had been wiped away and hidden below the everlasting white and brown. Some thought that it made the landscape ugly and barren, but to the tall man it was a different type of beauty. Without the chill of winter, the land was not able to rest. The ground would not have time to settle themselves before new growth sprung up everywhere. There could be no summer without winter, which is what made it such a pretty thing. Plus the large expanse of white was stunning to look at, the dull sunlight reflecting off the snow, making it look like shatter diamonds across the landscape. Minty green eyes took it all in, large paws making him fall through the softer snow to the harder, more frozen ice below. It took him a bit longer to where he wanted to go, but that didn't matter. It could take him a year to get where he was going and he wouldn't be any less excited, eager to see his friend that he had not seen for awhile. Within his jaws was a clutch of green, a mark of brightness against the dull white background. A rare glimmer of the spring to come, even though winter had just begun. Thick grey coat was fluffed up against the cold, dropping his gift for a moment to pull a clump of snow that had gathered on his chest. A deep breath left his lungs and fogged before his eyes, his rump slowly lowering to settle on the ground. He had been walking for awhile now, but his goal was so close. It was indeed winter, which meant that it was the birth season of his dear friend, Starling. He remembered the other boy talking about herbs that could only be found in the north, and so he thought it would make a nice gift to bring it down with him. Plus, a birthday was the best excuse to make the long journey to visit. A large paw prodded at the herb that he had brought, head tilting as he tried to remember the name that Starling had given it. It was green with red berries, the same herb that they had tried to find on the Mount where they first met. He had found it in the forests in the north, and had picked it before the snows got too thick. Hopefully it was an okay present... Taking a deep breath he picked it back up, heading towards the lands that the brown and white boy called home. Cathaoir skirted the lands of Abaven, surprised when he smelled a new addition to the pack lands. Huh, they had expanded? That must mean that the siege had gone well. He had meant to come and check on Starling after it all happened, but he couldn't just pack up and leave at a moments notice. He was beginning to focus more and more and his fighting skills, on becoming even stronger. There was only so much that he had been able to do on the tiny island that he grew up on, and now there were more wolves that he was able to train with. Stronger wolves, ones knew knew a lot more than he could ever imagine. There was a vast amount of knowledge that he wanted to soak up, to shove into his head as fast as possible. He had always been an eager learner, and now that everything had seemingly opened up in front of him he wanted to grasp it all in his grey paws. That left very little time for him to go and explore, or to come for a visit. Ears clung to his skull as he stepped away from Abaven lands, coming to rest in a land that touched upon Abaven's newest territory. Cath felt bad, like he should have come sooner to check up on the shorter boy. Taking another deep breath he dropped his gift at his paws and tipped back his head to call for Starling, hoping that he wouldn't hate him for taking so long. "Talk" "You" Think

Starling desperately disliked winter. Sure it was necessary for the cycle of life, and what not, but everything that made Starling himself existed only where there was life. Amongst green grass and blooming flowers, where he could use his mind and his gift to help people. Winter was the worst for him, even if his life had begun in that season. Really, he may have been born, but his life really began in the spring when he saw his first dandelion and daffodil, and learned that everything in nature was useful. Winter really played on his emotions and his insecurities, and he missed his plants so much. He had wandered away from home after the seige, only hanging around and hoping not to run into his father or his siblings. He had let them all down...At the seige meeting he had let it all get to him, and Aunt Harmony hadn't been too happy with him. He and Lillie had a spat, and he barely let any of the healers help him set up in the estuary. He was leading the healing after all! But when it all came down too it, he couldn't do it. He had freaked out, he had fled, leaving the rest of the healers to help his family and pack. He had watched from the sidelines, afraid and disappointed in himself. There hadn't been too many injuries, but still... He sighed softly as he sat in the snow, glaring down at the soft white before he was jolted by a call. His eyes snapped open wide, head lifting to stare ahead. Oh no! They had found him! They would strip him of his rank, and tell him he had disappointed all of them. His breath came in quick bursts, mind reeling so fast he felt dizzy when something small assured him in the back of his mind that that call hadn't been an Abaven wolf, and, then when he started worrying more, that it also wasn't an Imperium or Hellstrom wolf. No..no, this was better. He slowly blinked as the realization dawned on him and the little voice became louder. Quicker than a little white jack rabbit, he was on his paws and spinning around towards the call. Cathaoir! His paws moved before his stalled mind could catch up, and within moments he saw his larger friend. A large grin nearly split his face in two as he bounded towards him. "Cathaoir!" He called excited, not bothering to stop until he was mere feet from him, and even then he skidded through the snow with a slight yelp, forgetting how slippery winter could be. With a indignant yelp, he crashed right into Cathaoir's chest and stayed put for moments too long to try and keep down his embarrasment. Oh, he missed his warmth... He felt light headed as his scent overwhelmed him in those milaseconds, but it was a good sort of light headed. "Mi sei mancato.." He whispered so softly. "Burn Baby Burn" || "Bruciare Bambino Bruciare"